Locked up with “howling journalists” (and other ZEC challenges)
March 31st, 2008
At 11.25 pm Sunday evening, the ZEC finally broke its silence over the election results. Justice George Chiweshe spent nearly 20 minutes trying to maximise the ZEC’s image and belittle that of zim’s electorate and other interested parties – particularly the international press.
Through his arrogant and over-extended explanation, he attempted to defend his commission’s almost total blackout of information for the last 12 hours. He confirmed that the ZEC would only start announcing the official results at 6 am on Monday morning, 31st March – with the qualification – “if they had been received”.
He “expected most results to be received by tonight”.
He went to great lengths to sarcastically indicate that the ZEC – and the ZEC alone – were the sole legal and authentic source of the election results.
He went on to berate “some sources” who had “taken it upon themselves” to announce results.
He was supported by a toadying presenter who prompted him with several questions designed to show him and the commission in a favourable light, and leave the listed wrongdoers standing in the spotlight.
These related to:
- their legal right to do what they did and how they did it, whether right or wrong.
- their being up to the task at hand, with the necessary technical ability and resources to deal with 220 parliamentary seats, 60 senate seats, 1000+ council seats, and the presidential election.
Here he had to stress that “by any standards” it was providing very early results, and that “in other countries” the process takes much longer – “up to a week”.
He felt that this this was a record time for an “election of this magnitude”.
- ensuring that the public knew just how big a task he was doing and how import it was to the future of the country – like we don’t know that!
He couldn’t understand the impatience of other stakeholders who had been putting pressure on him. He asked how he could be expected to be independent when “locked up with howling journalists”. He tried to stress that he had been “very accessible” to the media both internal and foreign.
Maybe he should take into account the fact that there were virtually no public announcements for over twelve hours?
Maybe someone should tell him that we all know that they were playing for time while the government decided how to convert a massive defeat into a comfortable win?
March 31st, 2008 01:23
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/mugabe-the-writings-on-the-wall-802717.html
something for you?
March 31st, 2008 01:40
*goes to bed keeping her fingers crossed for you and your country*.
March 31st, 2008 02:24
I hope you are getting some rest for now, and that the news in the morning is better than this spin-meister is leading us to expect.
March 31st, 2008 03:59
Sitting here in London watching the news – really hope things turn out well. Thanks for your blog.
March 31st, 2008 05:17
The point of ZESN’s work is to check and announce turnout before the ZEC, to freeze in accurate numbers from a non-partisan, professional group. Reliable data from ZESN would challenge the credibility of the remarks of the ZEC chair stated above. 36 hours after polls close, and no statements from ZESN since the middle of election day. ZESN, get ahead of the game, please.
March 31st, 2008 06:00
I am in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, the city called as black Rome for the 3 millions african-brazilians who live here and i am with tears in my eyes waiting for GMT 4 PM and for the victory of democracy that now they can not avoid with frauds!
God Save the free Zimbabwe!
March 31st, 2008 06:05
Mugabe pays US$2,5 million to rigging experts
BY ITAI DZAMARA
HARARE
President Robert Mugabe made a down payment of US$1 million to an Israeli company with Mossad connections at the beginning of this month to help him rig the elections. The balance of U$1,5 million is due as soon as Mugabe has been sworn in for another term, The Zimbabwean on Sunday can reveal.
Details of the deal were leaked to us on Friday from the president’s own office, substantiating reports by the MDC of Israeli involvement in the elections.
Impeccable sources revealed that the spy agency had initially asked for US$3 million to secure Mugabe another term but ended up settling for US$2,5 million after negotiations with Mugabe’s emissaries, including Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono and CIO bosses.
The RBZ made the funds available and will also pay the balance, according to senior bank officials. Gono was said to be in a series of meetings on Friday when we called for comment.
The Mossad-linked company’s role includes ensuring that Mugabe “safely†settles in for another term. The source said this involved working with Zimbabwe’s security forces to deal with any protests that might follow the stealing of the election.
Meanwhile two ZEC commissioners told this paper that in the run up to yesterday’s voting, the commission had been forced to cede authority on the management of the elections to a team comprising the Mossad company and the CIO.
Early last week the rigging team was firmly in control of all aspects of the elections, and attempts by some commissioners to protest against this fraudulent arrangement were crushed by the CIO.
According to our sources, the majority of commissioners were not aware of the rigging details, except three (believed to be CIO) appointed by the Zanu (PF) regime.
They said the major tool used by the rigging team would be “doing something with the extra ballot papers, which nobody even is sure how many they areâ€.
Is this true?
March 31st, 2008 10:37
When the wind of change blows… Who can resist. The herald is unusually silent abt MDC today, not even a word! Even a comment about MDC’s claims that they won, and wats more curious they reported that Chigwedere has quit politics to become a Headman in his village! Wat really is up ZPF’s sleeve?!
March 31st, 2008 14:31
Sitting here in France…waiting, waiting, waiting..it is a travesty.
March 31st, 2008 15:51
webster shamu cried yesterday, he had to produce a short gun demanding a re-count. is that democracy? former cio boss Manyika commiting murder? uncle Bob out of the country?
i need answers.
tau
March 31st, 2008 16:08
The fact that the results are taking too long is driving us crazy. i think that we have very dull people that are running these elections. It seems like maths and figures are hard to comprehend for the people trusted to run these elections….by the way, do people in harare south actually live in Zimbabwe….and what the hell with uzumba?
March 31st, 2008 17:08
Elliot Manyika arikorova kogonya arimuchikurumbi!ha!ha! hanzi nhora! nhora!, wasungwa wayiti zvichasvikepi .ha!ha! .tinogoti maita henyu va Tsvangirai ,maita henyu save ,Mainzwa nhare mbozha yarira kuState houze !!!!!
March 31st, 2008 17:13
regai vaka daro mhanu eku uZumba achangara akadaro tichawasiya achifa nezhara kana to tonga isu !!!!
asi anhu aya hahana kumbokwana shuwa , nyagwe vaga wurawa nezhara vanogona Bob , chikoro dicho chishoma mani , iro rimbo ri zita rudziyi kuti uZumba , uzumba wemapenzi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!